Fundamental Transformation of Human Civilization 3620-FT-SP-OG

Through weekly discussions, real-time updates, and
comparative case studies, students will investigate how
globalization, AI, and post-Earth technologies are
redefining sovereignty, ethics, and human identity. The
curriculum is intentionally dynamic: readings, case
studies, and empirical examples will be updated each
week to reflect ongoing global developments, mirroring
the rapid tempo of civilizational change itself.
Special attention is given to how these accelerating
transformations affect Eastern and post-Soviet regions,
where questions of sovereignty, integration, and
geopolitical balance remain closely intertwined with the
evolving architecture of international law. This ultramodern course was designed by a scholar with
extensive international experience across three continents,
a former breaking-news journalist who covered major
global events—including the dramatic scenes at Ground
Zero on 9/11—and a high-ranking diplomat.
Weekly Schedule (Subject to Continuous Update)
Week 1 — Introduction: What Does “Civilization” Mean
Today?
Week 2 — Globalization and the End of Distance
Week 3 — The Acceleration Principle
Week 4 — Artificial Intelligence and Human Decision-
Making
Week 5 — Law and Order at the Cosmic Speed of Change
Week 6 — Economy and Inequality in the Digital Epoch
Week 7 — Midterm Week: Reflection and Synthesis
Week 8 — Climate, Planetary Limits, and the
Anthropocene
Week 9 — Space and Post-Earth Perspectives
 The cosmic dimension of civilization.
 Space governance and global commons.
Week 10 — Ethics and Human Identity in an Automated World
Week 11 — Communication, Knowledge, and the AI
Public Sphere
Week 12 — Cultural and Educational Adaptation
Week 13 — Global Governance and Institutional Futures
Week 14 — Scenarios for Civilizational Futures
Week 15 — Final Presentations and Integrative Reflection